The institute of Ethiopian studies library and its documentation services

ht. Libr. Rev. (1991) 23, 381-389

The Institute of Ethiopian Studies Library and its Documentation Services SUSHMA GUPTA*

During the last few decades research activities have grown rapidly in Ethiopia. Introduction of higher education and foreign assistance for this purpose have led the Ethiopian Government to set up several research institutes in the country. The Institute of Ethiopian Studies is one of them, set up to enable research activities in various areas of Ethiopian culture as well as to provide a documentation centre for them. Information and documentation are considered to be the infrastructure of research work. The present state of information and documentation services of the Institute is briefly described along with its history, activities and sections. The importance of introducing some new devices, such as compiling bibliographies, cumulative indexes, book lists and start- ing a newsletter to keep the researchers abreast of new developments at the Institute.

INTRODUCTION

Ethiopia today has a fairly visible body of potential research candidates with Master’s degrees who have gained some research experience while working on their Master’s thesis. There is also a group of senior post-doctoral researchers with good research ideas. Both groups are keen to continue their research. This zeal to conduct research may be greatly hindered if the research facilities are inadequate or the research environment is not conducive. Thus the initial ingredients for any strategy to build research capacity comprise research infrastructure and the techniques of choosing, procuring, servicing, maintaining and repairing scientific equipment. The research infrastructure includes laboratory technicians, repair and maintenance technicians, equipment procurement professionals and an effective library, documentation and information system.

The Institute of Ethiopian Studies has been set up to help the

* Assistant Librarian, Addis Ababa University, 1’. 0. Box 33945, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

0020~7837/91/040381 +09 $03.00/O (<;) 1991 Academic Press Limitrd

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researchers to accelerate their research activities in the field ofEthiopian studies and thus acts as the infrastructure for that. This article aims to describe the initial history of the Institute, its aims and objectives and its sections and activities. Special attention has been paid in describing its information and documentation activities at present and suggestions are made with respect to some useful devices to improve the service and to strengthen the research infrastructure, providing better research facilities.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE INSTITUTE

From time immemorial Ethiopia has been an area of inexhaustible inquiry for scholars of many lands, in subjects such as palaeontology, archaeology, the origins of man, and early human history. Taddesse Tamrat traces the traditions of international scholarship of Ethiopia

“ . . . to have started with the ancient Greeks, continued by the writers of the Hellenic and Roman worlds and kept alive in the Medieval period of Arab historians and geographers as well as a large number of European pilgrims to the holy Christian shrines of Palestine.“’

He further writes,

“The collection of information on Ethiopia by European governments and other interested groups continued with very little interruption throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; and it was naturally intensified in the nineteenth century when the European scramble for Africa was at its highest.“?

Many hundreds of manuscripts were taken away from here. Together with many books, newspaper and journal articles, printed reports, etc. These manuscripts form the basis for Ethiopian studies. During the past half century some European and American scholars have shown immense interest, conducting direct field research in languages, history, pre-history, archaeology and anthropology.

Besides this interest, the initiation of university education in Addis Ababa in 1950 and the increasing research output of foreigners and Ethiopians created the need to systematize the funding and direction of research, to prevent duplication as well as to provide adequate information centres. All these requirements led the Ethiopian Govern- ment to establish several research institutes in the country, such as the Institute of Agricultural Research, the Institute of Educational Research, the Institute of Development Research, etc. The Institute of Ethiopian Studies was one of them, opened on the campus of Haile Selassie I University in 1963.

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THE AIMS OF THE INSTITUTE

The Institute was established in order to (i) collect books, pamphlets, articles, archival material, maps, manuscripts, and other documents on Ethiopia produced in or outside Ethiopia; (ii) run the University’s Museum of ethnographic and historical interest including music and other tape recordings; and (iii) to encourage, co-ordinate and conduct research on Ethiopia. In this regard Chojnacki’s statements are worth mentioning here:

“Indeed one of our main activities, among many others, is to collect material which documents Ethiopia, and this includes, besides printed and handwritten books, ob,jects of the traditional life of Ethiopia. ‘Ihis documentation must be made available not only to the present generation, but also for the future. Collecting this cultural material, preserving, cataloguing and making it available for research and study is, therefore, one of the Institute’s most important tasks.“’

He further writes,

“We attempt to gather everything produced since the introduction of print in Ethiopia and the Institute’s collection which can claim some completeness of locally printed material. In other words, the Library of the Institute is defacto a depository library.“”

Thus the Institute comprises three main parts: the Library, the Museum and the Research and Publications Unit.

The Library This is a unique collection of books, pamphlets, reports, theses, manuscripts, microfilms, maps, and audio and video tapes, etc. produced in the many languages of Ethiopia. This is the most adequately equipped library for Ethiopian studies and research. This library was established on the recommendation of Dr R. K. P. Pankhurst in June 1963” through the transfer of books and ethnological collections of the former University College of Addis Ababa’s Ethiopic collection. The primary aim ofthe Institute at that time, was to create a centre ofdocumentation and research in Ethiopian culture. Presently the Library has about 90 000 documents. Its manuscript section is very rich. It has grown very rapidly, from 350 manuscripts ( 1973) to 2 140 manuscripts ( 1988). The library also contains microfilms. It has about 6750 microfilm reels microfilmed by the Ethiopian Manuscript Microfilm Library (EMML). Th ere are also about 1230 reels of microfilm from other countries’ libraries. Apart from these microfilms this section contains about 7400 official and personal letters.

The Museum This is another collection, not of documents, but of representative cultural artefacts from almost all the nationalities of Ethiopia, and

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invaluable pieces of Ethiopian traditional art. The collection ofobjects, illustrating traditional life in Ethiopia by the Institute, is a continuation of the programme started at the University College of Addis Ababa in 1 954.6 At present the Museum, with its 10 000 carefully chosen artefacts, is one ofthe most important and famous museums in the whole ofAfrica. There is an Ethnomusicological Unit which is engaged in collecting, preserving, analysing, classifying, cataloguing and eventually reproduc- ing the rich musical traditions of the various nationalities, and a photo- graphic archive which attempts to document social, cultural, economic and political developments in Ethiopia during the last 200 years.

The Research and Publications Unit The Research and Publications Unit of the Institute is closely related to the relevant teaching units in the College of Social Sciences and the Institute of Language Studies of Addis Ababa University. By Faculty Council of the University ruling, all the professional research personnel at the Institute are required to have their academic home base in any of the Faculties of the University and normally they have a joint responsibility at both Faculty and the Institute.’ With this set up, the Institute has been conducting research since its inception. Most research projects are the researcher’s individual interest but some are supervised and guided by the Institute’s administration, such as the publication of the Journal of Ethiopian Studies, Register of Current Research on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, etc.

PUBLICATIONS

In order to disseminate the research findings and to provide documentation services in the field of Ethiopian studies the Institute’s Research and Publications Unit started some publications.

Journal of Ethiopian Studies This journal was started as a bi-annual publication but after its 13th volume it became an annual publication. It was first published in 1963 and its 23rd volume was published in December 1990. It provides a forum for scholars and researchers engaged in Ethiopian studies research, primarily in the fields of history, linguistics and humanities.

Ethiopian Publications This is another of the Institute’s publications. Since the Institute’s Library attempts to collect all documents on Ethiopia published within Ethiopia or abroad, it publishes this list annually. This publication


provides lists of the books, pamphlets, periodical articles etc. published in Ethiopia in all languages. In other words it is an annual accession list of Ethiopian publications received in the Institute’s Library. It was first published in 1965, covering the materials of 1963 and 1964. It has two sections, one for foreign language publications and the other for Ethiopian language publications. The foreign language section is arranged in classified order according to Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme which the Institute is currently following and its Ethiopian languages section is arranged by author. Its latest issue, for 1977-1979, appeared in January 1989, which shows that its publication is lagging behind considerably.

List of Current Periodical Publications This list of Ethiopian periodicals was started in 1964 to be published bi-annually. It lists all the current periodical titles published in Ethiopia, as well as those which have ceased publication. The Institute has been able to issue six numbers so far, in 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972 and 1974. The next issue is currently in preparation.

Register of Current Research on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa This is also supposed to be a bi-annual publication. It lists the research projects in progress in Ethiopia and abroad. It was started in 1963. Its first four volumes appeared annually in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, but the following volumes appeared irregularly in 1968, 1969, 197 1 and 1980 and the 9th volume was only published in December 1990.

Museum Catalogues The Institute’s Museum contains an important and famous collection of Ethiopian artefacts and cultural heritage. The Ethiopian paintings and crosses are the most admired and most discussed items in the Museum. The Institute published the catalogue of Pottery and the catalogue of Processional Crosses in 197 1. A complete catalogue of its holdings is currently underway.

Research Active research is being carried out at the Institute through the Pub- lications and Research Unit. The following research projects have been completed and the results published. Under its Oral History Prqject the following have been published:

(i) “Menelik II Period” by Bairu Tafla, (ii) “Ethiopian Patriots and History of the South” by Tsehai

Berhane Sellassie,

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(iii) “Qene Collections” by Abba Aklilu Gabre Hiwot, (vi) “Modern History of Ethiopia” by Aleme Eshete, (v) “Economic History of Ethiopia” by R. K. P. Pankhurst,

(vi) “History of Ethiopian Art” by S. Chojnacki, (vii) “Translation and Indexing of Ethiopian Chronicles” edited by

Taddesse Tamrat.

The Unit is currently working on a project on Ethiopian biographies.* This is supposed to be published as a multi-volume work. Its first volume is complete and has been published and it has approximately 500 entries. Its second volume is in preparation and is supposed to cover some 700 entries.

Conferences and Seminars Conferences and seminars are also an important means of disseminating information. In this way interested people and serious researchers in a certain field are brought together to learn about current research trends and results. The Institute organizes and hosts conferences and seminars both at national and international levels, for this purpose. The first conference, the Institute had the honour of hosting was the Third International Conference of Ethiopian Studies in 1966. This was a media event. A closed circuit television was installed free of charge by Philips Company, Ethiopia. This innovation unfamiliar to most students, attracted many more people than expected.g The proceedings of this conference were also published by the Institute. Since the Per- manent Secretariat for the International Conference ofEthiopian Stud- ies has now been established here, it has been decided that every third conference should be held here at the Institute. Ten international conferences have already been held since 1959. The eleventh was held at the Institute in April 199 1.

Since the Third International Conference of Ethiopian Studies the Institute has organized several conferences and seminars at national and international level. A list of these conferences and seminars is given in the Appendix at the end of this article.

PROPOSAL

Whatever the Institute is doing, it is doing its best, but there is always room for doing more and for further improvement. The following are some suggestions to enhance the service to its users and to enable it to perform its function more efficiently.

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Bibliographies

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Since collecting materials without documentation work is of little use, the Institute’s Library should begin the work of compiling bibliographies or lists of documents or reading lists, based on its holdings. These lists can be used by both staff and researchers alike. They should have proper indexes for multi-approach search of documents along with their location (call number). Though there are some bibliographies in the library they are not well-publicized and thus are not used and some of them need updating. To make best use of them, the existing bibliographies and journal indexes should be kept within reach of the users (users include both library staff and researchers) and the library staff should be trained to use them themselves and to encourage researchers to do so.

Indexes The documentation of all African literature by regular abstracting and indexing services is extremely poor. Since this library is attempting to collect all the publications published in Ethiopia, it should undertake the work of preparation of cumulative indexes of various Ethiopian journals. These indexes are very helpful for locating desired journal articles. This is called retrospective search and it is especially helpful to the user to know what has been published in a certain journal and on a certain subject. It gives insight into the strong/well-covered or weak areas to select his topic for research.

Other Lists Since the Institute Library acquires materials in various forms, lists of these materials, such as maps, pamphlets, microfilms, etc. also need to be produced. These lists will help users to search a particular form of document quickly and easily.

Newspaper Indexes The Institute’s Library has collected several newspapers which are heavily used. Newspapers are a good source of information on local issues. Several developed countries regularly index their important newspapers. This Library should also undertake a project of indexing all collected newspapers in the Library to ensure maximum usage.

Publicity Without publicizing all the work done much work will just go to waste. All works should be publicized to Ethiopians as well as to foreigners to make them aware of the existence of various materials and to keep them abreast of the developments at the Institute. For this a bulletin or a

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newsletter, should bc published regularly, maybe twice a year and mailed regularly to interested people and organizations. This bulletin would inform people of events occurring at the Institute during the last 6 months and may highlight the future events of the Institute along with the documentation and publication information.

CONCLUSION

As mentioned previously, the library, documentation and information system plays a major role in supporting the research activities of its parent institute. With minimum personnel, financial and other infra- structural facilities and lack ofmodern equipment (personal computers, word processors, photocopying machines, etc.), the Institute’s Library is trying its best to provide a few skeleton services to its internal users, but very little to its external users. The Institute is now 25 years old. This is the time to show its maturity by initiating proper documentation and information services to the outside world. In order to carry out these services, its Library requires adequate funds and personnel. If this Institute is to achieve the aims and objectives for which it was set up, it must be provided with adequate facilities.

1 Taddesse Tamrat (1984) The International Congress of Ethiopian Studies (1959-1980) : a short review. An article prepared for Eighth International Conference ofEthiopian Studies: 25th anniversary issue, issued by the Institute of Ethiopian Studies. p. 1. Ibid., p. 2. Chojnacki, Stanislaw (1969) The preservation of Ethiopia’s cultural heritage. Lecture delivered at the Meeting of the Society of Friends, 18 December, 1969. p. 15. Ibid., p. 15. Institute of Ethiopian Studies Library (1976) Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa Uni- versity, Institute of Ethiopian Studies. p. 1. Taddesse Tamrat (1984) Ibid., p. 16. Faculty Council Legislation, 17 September 1973. Title IV (a), i (3), p. 88. Pankhurst, R. K. P., Chojnacki, S., Aleme Eshete and Bairu Tafla (eds). Dictionary of Ethiopian Biography. Addis Ababa. Addis Ababa University, Institute of Ethi- opian Studies.

9

1 9

Taddesse Tamrat (1984) Ibid., p. 4.

APPENDIX

List of Conferences and Seminars Hosted by the Institute 1966 Third International Conference of Ethiopian Studies. 1974 Ethiopian Feudalism Conference. L

REFERENCES

3 1984 4 1986

5 1988 6 1988 7 1989 a 1989 9 1989 0 1991


Eighth International Conference of Ethiopian Studies. International Symposium on the Centenary of Addis Ababa. 24-25 November, 1986. National Symposium on Maqdala, 12th anniversary. 24-25 April, 1988. Silver Jubilee of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies. 24-26 November, 1988. Metemma: Symposium on the Centenary of Metemma. 9 March, 1989. Aksum Seminar. 3-4 October, 1989. National Seminar on Gender Issues in Ethiopia. 21-23 December 1989. Eleventh International Conference of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), 1-6 April 1991.

Documents

The institute of Ethiopian studies library and its documentation services